Zone change approved on Midkiff Road

Published 3:28 pm, Monday, June 20, 2011

New retail development could be on the way at Midkiff Road near Loop 250.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved in a 5-0 vote on Monday to rezone for retail development a lot on the west side of North Midkiff Road.

The property, which is about 600 feet north of Loop 250, had been zoned as a planned district for a shopping center.

The Pilcher's Group is looking to purchase the land and develop it for retail use but wanted to obtain the zone change before completing a contract to purchase the property from Commercial State Bank, said attorney Robert Rendall, speaking on behalf of the developers.

"We think it's compatible with the area," he said.

Originally, the lot was used for a Golden Corral, Rendall said.

After that was torn down, the property was zoned to accommodate for a three-story hotel that had been proposed, city staff said. The hotel was never built and Rendall said The Pilcher's Group wants to ensure the area is zoned for retail, not for a hotel, before finalizing its purchase.

He said they don't yet have plans for what will go in the area but that it will be retail development.

The land is next to an Avis Lube and across the street from a shopping center that includes and Albertsons and a Stein Mart, among other businesses.

Before a vote was taken, a public comment period was held in which no one came forward to speak.

Commissioner Jane Wolf said she wanted to ensure there wouldn't be any residential development next to the property if it were zoned for retail.

City staff said it's located next to a detention basin for runoff that while zoned for housing is owned by the city and not developable.